Lewis Mills finally breaks through in 1-0 win over Bristol Eastern

written by Collinsville Press | October 16, 2026

Lewis Mills’ Olivia Brunetti, center, battles for the ball with Bristol Eastern’s Olivia Viens during Friday’s girls soccer game in Bristol. Mills prevailed, 1-0. (Photo courtesy Steve Barlow)

By STEVE BARLOW
Special to The Collinsville Press
BRISTOL, Oct. 16, 2026 – Lewis Mills’ Taylor Hatt understood the time for pussyfooting was over. It was time to just do it.

As her teammate, freshman Mya Nardi, took a pass from sophomore Olivia Brunetti on the right side of the pitch, Hatt called for the ball while rushing to an open space in front of the net. Nardi crossed it into the middle – a bit high, but on target – and Hatt didn’t hesitate.

With a resounding thud from her right foot, she planted the ball in the back of the net with four minutes left for the only score in the Spartans’ 1-0 victory over Bristol Eastern in Central Connecticut Conference girls soccer Friday afternoon.

Mills dominated the game, outshooting the Lancers, 24-9, but time and time again the ball rolled wide, banged off the crossbar, was deflected by an Eastern defender or gobbled up by the Lancers’ keeper, Rebecca Chambers (18 saves).

Hatt knew why she had misfired on her shots.

“I took either some wrong touches or I was overthinking it: ‘Oh, maybe this extra touch will help,’” the sophomore striker said. “I think I should’ve kind of just went for it.”

The victory elevated the Spartans to 8-3-2 overall. Class M semifinalists a year ago, they are ranked No. 2 in Class S, largely because they play a schedule crowded with Class LL and L foes. Under the CIAC’s new formula, strength of schedule is a factor, and no Class S team plays a tougher schedule than Mills.

The win almost wasn’t. With 5½ minutes remaining, Eastern (10-3, 10th in Class L), which was trying to beat Mills for the first time since 2019, had apparently scored off a corner kick. The referee waved it off, though. He had called a foul just before the ball crossed the line.

Given new life, the Spartans went back on the attack and got the game-winner from Hatt shortly thereafter. Mills coach Quentin Lux felt the victory showed his team’s growth. “I’m not sure we would have won this one earlier in the year,” he noted.

Junior Kiera Vigue came up with eight saves in goal for Mills.

Three games remain on the Spartans’ schedule, beginning Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. at Nassahegan Field against Farmington, one of only two teams to beat Mills this year. Simsbury is the other.

“This gives us confidence we can use in other games ahead,” Hatt said.